Do you do anything to swap your car from

To be that obsessive, a little sad, tho I ensure I have waterproofs \ supplies in a box in the boot should I ever get stuck anywhere.

(help, I'm turning into my dad!)

(edited )

Originally posted by TaviaRS in this post

Sad or sensible?

Both - although mainly the latter! I wouldn't expect to do many of those for a carefully maintained, garaged, low mileage car - but if I was doing a high mileage and going to remoter parts of the UK, extra winter protection would be very sensible. Damp start, fog/water repellent, winter tyres and cooling system drain and refill would be OTT for me. But beefing up the washer bottle fluid is an essential since the washer bottles can cost a small fortune to replace on some cars.

Eminently sensible, Jon.

If only I could afford a set of wheels with winter tyres!!

I presume the Ombrello is significantly better than Rain-X? The problem I found with Rain-X is that when you do use the wipers it forces the water into microscopic beads, thus paradoxically reducing vision.

Cheapskate that I am, I've actually found Swissol Onyx wax to be quite effective on the glass (obviously not on the front screen).

On the sadness scale, I'm afraid I qualify by having screenwash, water, oil, first aid kit, warning triangle and a fluorescent vest just in case I have to stop anywhere.

Originally posted by Tavia4x4 in this post

in a boot in the box

Can't beat a good boot in the box, can you?? ;)

Howard, I don't have a spare set of wheels, I just swap the tyres over and keep the normal ones stored in the garage.

The Ombrello is marvellous stuff. Main benefit is that if applied properly (ie follow the instructions) it lasts about 30-40000 miles with each coat, making it far cheaper than Rain X over time. I also found like you say that due to the beading with RainX it almost appeared like smearing which was just what I didn't want. I only do the anti-fog because it came free with the Ombrello stuff

Denis, washer bottle is

I get up earlier to de ice the car and that's about it.

engage brain, utilise fingers, if only I could type as quick as I can think!!!

(off to edit last post to make some sense! )

I dont really do anything - I dont even get up early to defrost the car, I just get to work 5 minutes later!

I don't really do much but carry a shovel, a blanket and change the screenwash to mostly screenwash as apposed to mainly water. Don't suppose anybody has seen the state of the roads around the Grampians with all the snow they have been getting?

Jon,

how about swapping you vRS for a Tourag V10 and buying a set of snow chains

I find that having a washing up liquid type bottle filled with a high concentration of screenwasher fluid is a great substitue for frozen washer jets - open window, put arm out, point to windscreen and squirt - this has restored vision quite a few times for me!!

John.

I used to do some of these things - but am getting lazier with old age (funny you'd think I'd be getting more Dad-ish as Ian said). Certainly used to carry extra screenwash, in the car, in one of those plant sprayers so I could reach out and spray the windscreen manually when the washers inevitably froze up. Haven't ever considered battery terminals or coolant system - certainly the coolant system I regard as the responsibility of the servicing dealer to check strength and refill at the stated intervals. Fuel and warm clothing - excellent ideas - you need a good fuel can, well secured in the boot though, to avoid fumes or leakage.

But you've certainly set the little grey cells in motion Jon. Thanks!!

Edit: Great minds, John, great minds ....

I normally carry a can of de-icer, a bit of screenwash, diluted, some glass cleaner, a cloth for whatever may happen... The only other stuff is to regularly check screenwash tank (which at the moment is still quite neat from last winter's stock - rarely used) - and not let the fuel tank go down as much as I normally might.

but TBH, the car is so reliable in the cold/snow, there's little to worry about. - Just not crashing in the ice/snow.

Originally posted by TaviaRS in this post

Sad or sensible?

All sounds fairly reasonable, particularly if you do a lot of mileage at this time of year.

After what happened on the motorways last winter, i reckon anyone setting out on a trip this year should prepare for the worst

The screen wash in my motors is always fairly stron as that is the best way I find to remove bird crap.

As for washer jets...the Transporter has heated jets as standard, and Imn not sure bout the Superb, but then its garaged when home and not in use and during the real cold months I run a tube heater on the floor under the engine bay to take the edge off and just allow the car to heat quicker and start easier.

Anyone stuck on the M11 or A1 last winter would agree with that lot of kit and take more.

At the last service my dealer has refilled my screenwash with something that smells SO strongly of lemons as to be unpleasant, and appears to have made the jets approx 50% less efficient. In the words of Sir Robert Mark .... you know it makes sense ...

For the miles you do Jon, it sems eminently sensible.

Me, I just put in concentrated screenwash and chuck a jacket in the boot.

and chuck a jacket in the boot

I could make a link between your profession and the type of jacket you may carry...

...it took me a few seconds to get it but....

I do nothing, except book my car in for a Free Winter Check that Merritts Skoda so kindly offered...

Originally posted by Tavia4x4 in this post

I could make a link between your profession and the type of jacket you may carry...

Mine's luminous yellow, with Scotchbrite stripes...

Occasionally draped over the passenger seat :evil:

Oh god ....I think I fufil the sad catagory!

Full strength concentrate in windscreen washer

Winter service in Oct every year

x4 Colway M+S 166/R13's

Foil wrapped breakfast bars & Mars or Snickers

2 tonne trolley jack

Jump leads

Spare bulbs

De-icer & scrapper

2 bits of old carpet & string

Spare fuel in can

Bright orange kagool

Spare fleece

Last but not least whellies & spare socks!

.....Not that there's much room left in the ol' Felicia with all that lot in it!:eek:

Originally posted by LXI in this post

...

De-icer & scrapper

...

Bit harsh! :eek: